Metal body for motor vehicles



July 8, 1941.

C. L. WATERHOUSE, ,JR

METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 12 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1959 ssf July 8, 1941- c. L. WATERHOUSE, JR 4 19 METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 18, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 Enventor 1 1 attorneys July 8, 1941.

c. L. WATERHOUSE, JR 2, 9 METAL BODY on MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 18, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 (hr 7153 Waist/h summer Gttornegs y 3, c. L. WATERHOUSE, JR 2,248,319 METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Mar ch 1a, 1939 12 shee s-sheep 5 July 8, 1941?. c, L. WATERHOUSE, JR

METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 18, 1959 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 y c. L. WATERHOUSE, JR

METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 18', 1939 1-2- Shets-Sheet 7 5:; M Gttomegs July 8, 1941.

c. L. WATERHQUSE, JR

METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 18, 1939 v y Qttorneg July 1941- c. L. WATERHOUSE, JR 2,248.31

METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 18, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 y 1941- c. L. WATERHOUSE, JR

METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Fil'ed MarCh- 18, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 July 8, 1941.

c. l... WATERHOUSE, JR.

METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 18 1939 12 Sheets -Sheefi 1-1 I [L -Eu 6 u 4 m 4 W a h u a m I J 8 m 6 5 5 ihlgu W u ix m 11 I a M H r fl U 0 d W 0 z n I 3nnentorfirm/55,8. Qllif'i/Zflllii fi r I Gttornegs y c. L. wATERHou'sE. JR 2 3 METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 18, 19.319

attorneys panel.

Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Charles L. Waterhouse, Jr., Dearborn, Mich, al-

signor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich... a corporation of Delaware Application March 18,1939, Serial No. 262,605

9 Claims.

This invention relates to metal automobile bodies, particularly of the type in which no underframe or chassis is used but the body and the understructure thereof are built sufficiently strong so that the body is self-sustaining and does not require the support of the usual chassis or frame.

The particular novelty of the invention resides particularly: (1) in the construction of the roof made integral with the top of the cowl, the windshield, and a portion of the rear quarter panel;

(2) in the manner of attaching a short front frame section to the underframe; (3) in the manner of bracing the underframe to the front pillars; (4) in the structure of the front door pillar and the inside panel and the interassociation of the two; (5) in the top side rail over the ,vehicle doors; (6) in the rear of the bodycomprising the side panels, underframe, and seat back supports; (7) in the rear door post; (8) in the various details of the unde'rpan; (9) a novel door; (10) in a number of other details of construction.

The interrelation of these various novel details results in a commercially adaptable body which has proved successful in use.

On the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the body with the doors omitted and with a part broken away better to show a detail of construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional details on the corresponding lines of Figure 12.

a Figure 5 is a sectional detailed view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the front of the body, parts being broken away better to illustrate the construction.

Figure 7 is a sectional detailed view on the line of Figure 12.

Figure 8 is an expanded view of the front end of the body disclosing particularly the details of the front pillar and the inside windshield Figures 9, 10, and 11 are sectional details of the front door pillar on the corresponding lines of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a front viewof one side of the body, parts being broken away better to illustrate details of construction.

Figures 13. 14, 15, and 16 are sectional views on the corresponding lines of Figure'l.

Figure 17 is an enlarged view of the rear part of the body with parts broken away and shown in section better to illustrate details of construction.

Figure 17a is a section taken on the line Ila-Ila of Figure 17. v

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a part of the rear door post.

Figure 19 is an expanded view of a part of the rear door post construction.

Figure 20 is an expanded view of the connection between the rear quarter panel of the top, thetrear side panel, and the tray over the rear sea Figure'21 is a perspective view of the vehicle top construction.

Figures 22 23, and 24 are sectional views on the corresponding lines of Figure 1.

- Figure 25 is a perspective view of the underpan.

Figure 26 is a sectibnal view on the corresponding line of Figure 1.

Figure 27 is an expanded perspective view of the lower end of the center door post.

Figure 28 is a perspective view of apart of the underbody at the front of the wheel housing at the place where the rear door post joins the underpan.

Figure 29 is a perspective view of a short frame at the front of the vehicle body.

Figure 30 is a view of the comer construction at the wheel housing where the rear door post joins the underpan.

Figure 31 is a bottom plan view of one half of the rear partof the underpan.

Figures 32 and 33 are sectional views on the corresponding lines of Figure 1.

Figure 34 is a sectional view on the corre- Figure 37 is a sectional detailed view on the corresponding line of Figure 31.

Figure 39 is a view of one-of looking from the inside.

Figures 40, 41 and 42 are sectional. detailed views on the corresponding lines of Figure 39.

Figure 43 is a view, corresponding to Figure 42, of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, the metal automobile body is indicated as a whole at 2;,and com prises in general the top construction 4 (which includes the windshield 6 and the cowl top I and the rear quarter part l0), the cowl sides l2, center post I4, rear side panels IS, the underpan l8, and the front frame 20.

The front frame is shown in detail in Figure 29 and comprises the side elements 22 and 24 each the front doors of which is composed of two channel members facing each other and welded together on the line 28 to form a box-sectioned construction. The rear of each side element is spread apart to form a two-tined fork 28 and the four tines are united at their rear ends by the channel cross piece 80. The channel is centrally arched as at 8I to accommodate the transmission and propeller shaft. At the front the side members 22 and 24 are united by transverse member 82 which in turn is composed of the individual transverse elements 34 and 88 which are fork shaped at their ends where they join onto the side members '22 and 24 and are rigidly connected to each other at their middles as indicated at 88. Suitable plates .40 are used to connect the spaced ends of the transverse members 34 and 88. The structure of the transverse brace 82 is designed to strengthen the frame and to serve as a front mount for the usual engine suspension.

At each side of the front frame where the transverse member 82 joins onto the side bars 22 and 24, two brackets 42 are secured. These brackets have an upwardly extending part 44 provided with an opening for the reception of a cylindrical spacer 48 in which there is received a bolt 48. Rubber washers 50 are positioned inside and outside the end of the upwardly extending part 44 on opposite sides of the opening and a metal washer 52 is positioned over the inner rubber washer 50. Over the outer rubber washer 50 there is, positioned the metal disc 54 secured to 54 the nut 58 may be secured as by welding. IBy tightening the bolt 48 into the nut 58 the end of may be spot welded at 82. The cowl panels I2 are suitably shaped at 84 to form a shoulder and a flange (Figure 12) and against the flange of this shaped part the front fender is positioned and secured, suitable openings 88 being provided for the reception of bolts which will pass through a flange on the front fender. The cowl sides I2 are further shaped at 88 to form a ledge for the end of the footboard.

The upper edge of each side cowl panel I8 of the cowl is provided with an inturned flange I00 (Figure 8) which mates with a corresponding flange I02 (Figure 21) on the cowl top 8 and these flanges are secured together as by welding rigidly to hold the construction together. The front edges of the side cowl panels are provided with flanges 88 and IM which are secured to the radiator shell (not shown).

The rear edges of the cowl sides I2 are inwardly flanged as indicated at I08 in Figures 8 and 10, and this inwardly flanged part I88 is then flanged at right angles as at I04. The flanges I08 and I04 set or flt in a rabbet I08 formed in the edge of the front door pillar 88. The edge of the cowl top 8 has flanges I08a and I04a which are a continuation of the flanges I08 and I04 on the cowl sides I2.

v and forming the end of a tube 58 and to this disc 1 the tube will be resiliently held on the bracket 42 7 Referring to Figures 8-11 inclusive, it will be seen that each of the front door pillars below the belt line is much wider transversely than above the belt line and comprises the channel shaped member I08 closed at its inside by the flller piece I I0 and having a flared lower end I08 fitting over the sill 82. The flller piece II. has its ends flanged as at H2 and these flanges are united as by welding to 'the ends of the channel I08 as is shown in Figure 10. Figure 10 also shows that the sides I2 of the cowl are spaced from the sides of the pillar 88 as shown at H4.

The upper end of the filler piece H0 is tapered as indicated at H8 and on the top of this tapered part there is secured one of the bottom flanges to the front door pillar indicated as a whole at 88.

The frame 20 at the rear cross member has the opening 88 (Figures 5 and 29). This opening 88 is formed by suitably shaping the web of the side members 22 and 24 as indicated at I0. A correspondingly shaped piece I2 is secured to the outside of the side members 22 and 24 to form a thickened edge on the opening. In this opening there is received the rubber spool I4 and passing through the spool and the opening there is positioned the metal cup I8 having the flared edge 18 which rests on the edge of the rubber spool 14. The bottom of.the cup 18 has an opening for the reception of a. bolt 80 which passes through the front end of the side sill 82 of the underpan I8. This side sill 82 has positioned therein the reinforcing bracket 84 having an indented part 88 to receive the end of the cup I8. A spacing cylinder 88 is positioned between the sides of the bracket 84 and the bolt 80 passes through suitable openings in the sill, the bracket, and through the spacer 88. A nut 80 screwed onto the bolt rigidly holds the cup 18 in the recess 88. There is one connection, such as shown in Figure 5, at each side of the vehicle and this connection serves as a resilient connection between the front frame and the underpan.

In Figure 6 the cowl sides I2 are shown as provided with openings 82 for the reception of bolts to fasten the cowl sides I2 to the frame 20. Instead of bolts pasflng through openings 82 and corresponding openings in the frame 20, the parts I80, and the instrument board I82.

I I8 of an inside windshield reinforcing and flller piece I20, which extends on an'incline from the top of the filler IIO to the top 4. The manner in which the flange III is welded to the top of the filler piece H0 is best shown in Figure 4. A second flange m is secured inside the pillar at I2I.

The upper part of the channel I08 is inwardly offset as indicated at I22 and over this offset part there is telescoped the lower end I24 of the inside windshield panel indicated as a whole at I28. This panel I20 comprises the inner lateral cap members I28 forming a part of the door post, the top transverse bracing or reinforcing member Part I28 is made of a single stamping and rigidly reinforces and braces the front part of the body at the windshield.

A short filler piece I84, of the shape shown in Figures 8 and 9, is used to bridge the inside of the front pillar at the telescopic lower end I24 and extends from the offset part I22 upwardly along The instrument board is curved in plan with the middle extending into the vehicle.

Inside the front post at the point where the end 84 of the tube 88 meets the post a bracket I88 is secured as by welding. This bracket has an extension flange I81 provided with openings I88 to which one of the hinges of the door is secured. The extension has the lateral flanges HI and the bottom angular flanged part I48 which is secured to the inside of the front door post.

The position of this-bracket in the post is best shown in Figure 4 and is for the additional purpose of strengthening the point of attachment of the tube end 64 of the top to the front .post.

,Referring to Figure 9, it will be noted that the inside reinforcing panel I26 is suitably shaped at its edge to form a channel I38 and the end of this channel extends outwardly beyond the cowl top 8 and is suitably shaped as at I40 to form a drip channel or rain trough. The windshield side 6 at this point is flanged as indicated at MI and this flange is secured in the rain trough I40. The inner cap member I 20 is angularly shaped and has its ends flanged at I42 and I44 and these flanges are secured respectively to the flller piece I34 and the flange forming the rain trough or drip channel I 40. The flller piece I34 has a flange at I46 which is secured to the shoulder I48 formed on a part of the channel I38.

In Figure 11'the side header or cap piece 6 of the windshield has the lateral flanges MI and I50, the flange I50 being welded to a flange I52 formed on the inclined upright member I 2801 the inside reinforcing panel I26. The flanges I42 and I44, on the flller piece I20 are suitably welded to the side I28 of the inner panel I26 as best shown in Figure 11.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, it will be noted that the edge of the top 4 above the windshield is slightly inwardly flanged as indicated at I54 and to this flange there is secured a flange I56 formed on the bottom of the transverse header piece I30 of the panel I26. This header piece I30 has the cut out parts I58 which form fingers I60 which are suitably bent up against the insideoi' the top 4 and welded at I62 to the roof. The header I30 has the flange I64 which extends away from the roof so that the header I30 when se- 2 panels I6. The flller cured to the roof edge forms therewith a boxsectioned construction.

Referring to Figures 6 and 12, it will be seen that the cowl is provided with a cowl pan or dash panel 60. This cowl pan is secured by means of its edge flange I68 to the adjacent parts comprising the cowl top 8 and the cowl sides I2. This pan has the indented part I10 pressed from the outside toward the inside of the body, this indented part being to give clearance to and to accommodate certain parts of the engine. The pan 60 has the inclined part I12 to form the toeboard at the front of the vehicle.

1 The cowl top is downwardly offset at I 14 to receive the edge of the hood door and has a further forwardly projecting downwardly offset part I16 whichextends underneath the hood door.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the shape of the center pillar I4 is shown. This pillar is nar-- stantially the belt line of the vehicle the lower part of the post is given an outward bulge as indicated at I18. The pillar comprises the outer which to secure the upholstery. This filler strip 188 is secured to-the ends of the channel I80 by houses are also shaped as at 231 I94 and the outer curved edge panel I96, this panel I96 having the top 4 as. a continuation thereof. The strip I94 has the cut outs I98 which form the tongues 200 which are secured by welding the end flange 202 to the underside of the panel I96. The member I94 has the vertically extending part 204 and the more or less horizontally extending part 206. The part 208 has the inclined web 208, the vertical web 2 I 0 and the horizontal web 2I2. The top edges of the doors I86 are stepped to strike against the horizontal part 206 and to conform to the webs 208,- 2I0, 2I2 to form a convenient interfltting connection. The web M2 is continued outwardly beyond the edge of the panel I96 and is upwardly turned as at'2I4 to form a'drip channel or rain trough, a continuation of the drip trough I40. The flange 2I6 at the edge of the side panel I96 is welded in the drip channel 2.

Referring to Figure 1'1 there is shown the roof 4 and the rear quarter panel I0 integral therewith and extending downwardly to the belt line of the vehicle. At the belt line the rear quarter panel I0 has the flange 2I8 (see Figures 20 and 21) which is united to a wider flange 220 on the rear side panels I6 and on the flanges 220 there is positioned the flange 222 on the edge of a tray 224 which extends across the rear of the vehicle at the top of the rear seat back. Between the flanges 2I8 and 220 at the rear of the vehicle there is secured the transverse filler piece 226 which has the edge flanges 228 which are secured to the inwardly turned flanges 220 on the side piece ,226 is preferably integral with the tray as a separate piece.

The side panels I6 at their lower sides are .se- I cured as by welding to the underpan I8; and the underpan, the side panels I6, and transverse piece 226 form a luggage compartment at the rear of the vehicle which is adapted to be closed by a door 230.

The rear panels I6 have the inwardly pressed wheel houses 232 and each wheel house in turn is. provided with the outwardly pressed part 234 to accommodate the shock absorber. Suitable strengthening ribs 236 are formed in the wheel houses to strengthen the construction. The wheel to receive a flange on the rear fenders. The fenders are se cured at the openings 239.

I 6 at the inside have secured thereto the inclined rower at its top than at its bottom and at sublateral upright seat back supporting plates 238, these plates extending substantially from the belt line of the vehicle to the underpan I8 as is best shown in Figure 17. At the top the plates 238 are rearwardly flanged, similarly to the flange indicated at 240 on the .center. rib 24I to support the seat back. The flanges 240 are received under the edge of the shelf 224, the shelf in turn having the flange 242 bent downward at its forward edge and overlapping the top of the supporting plates 238. The parts are secured together by welding. At their sides the plates 238 have the flange 243 and at their lower ends they are secured by means of the flange 244 to the wheel house 232. The center rib at its extreme lower end is secured to the edge 246 of a channel 248 formed in the underpan I8. The upwardly bent 224, but maybe constructed channel 248 is to accommodate the rear axle and has a protuberance 280 at the middle thereof to accommodate the diiferential housing.

As is best seen in Figures 17 and 25, the sides of the rear end of the underpan I8 have the downwardly bent flanges 252 to which the lower ends of the side panels I6 are secured as by weldinferring to Figures 1, 16,18, 19, 23, and 24, there is disclosed the rear door-pillar, The sections of this pillar vary as will be seen from an examination of the sectional views of Figures 16,

23, and 24. In Figure 16 the wheel house 282 is sure piece 260 having flanges 262 and 284 which are welded to the wheel house 282 and to the flange 256 respectively. The closure piece 260 is provided with the groove 266 for the reception of a tacking strip to which to attach the upholstery.

From the expanded view of Figure 19 the post section at the upper inclined part of the door post is shown. This post section comprises the channel shaped element 268 having ,the inner flange 210 and the outer flange 212. This channel 268 is closed by the inner reinforcing closure piece 214 having a flang 218 which faces the side 218 of the channel 268 and is secured thereto by welding. The flange 210 is welded to the edge of the closure piece 214. The closure strip 214 has a wing 280 extending rearwardly thereof and a flange 282 on this wing is secured to the rear seat back supporting panel 288. The closure strip 214 provided with suitable holes 284 to enable the application of welding equipment. The inner part I84 of the upper body side rail (Figures 6 and extends rearwardly and downwardly to form a part of the rear door post. This part I84 has the extension 288 which extends downwardly and overlaps the upper part of the channel 268 and the flller piece 214 and extends downwardly to the-line 288 where it Joins onto the. rear quarter panels I0 having the window webs 2 I0 and 2I2 the upper flared end of the post is adapted to abut. The post is welded in place by means of the outer flange 288 and at the inside at the flange I92. The lateral flared parts 298 (Figure 17) are welded to the webs 208' and 2I2.

In Figures 26 and 27 the manner in which the bottom of the center post is connected to the side the inwardly turned flange 280 formed from the rear side panel I6. The side panel I8 is offset at its upper part to receive the end of the strip 288 to form a smooth surface. The top of the filler piece 214 is shaped as shown at 282 to be received over and secured to the correspondingly shaped end part of the member I84 as is shown in Figure 18. The flange 212 is spaced from the flange 216 of the filler piece 214 to form a groove 294 to receive a tacking strip for the upholstery.

Figure 24 shows the section of the door post immediately above the belt line. The part 286, forming a continuation .of the reinforcing member I94, does not have parts 202 and 204 below the structure'indicated at 282 at the top of the closure piece 214, but otherwise the general configuration of piece 286 follows the configuration of the reinforcing member I84. That is, the parts 208, 2I0 and 2I2 have the same general configuration as the corresponding parts in Figure 15. At suitable points along'its length, the channel member 268 is provided with outwardly pressed parts 295 to locate the rear quarter panel I6. a

In Figure 21 the integral top construction 4 is best shown. v roof part proper 4, the upper door rail part I88,

This roof stamping comprises the sill of the underpan is shown. The bottom of the inside cap I88 of the post has a downwardly extending flange 802 and an outwardly extending flange 804 and these flanges 802 and 804 are welded to the adjacent parts of the underframe. The bottom of the channel I80 has the flared parts 308 which seat in depressions 808 (Figure 25) formed on the side sill, 82 of the amderpan I8. These flared ends 806 are welded where they seat in the depressions. The outer channel member I 80 has the downwardly extending flange 8I2 which faces against and is welded to the, outside of the sill 82.

In Figure 30 there is shown the manner in which the end or the wheel house I6 is secured to the side sill 82 of the underframe. The end of the inwardly bent part 264 of the wheel house is extended as shown at 8I4 and'flang'ed at 8" where it is welded to a seat support 8I8 which is secured to the underpan as is best shown in Figure 25. The lower end of the inwardly turned part 264 of the side panel'l6 is formed into channel shape as indicated at 820 and this channel shaped part flts over the corresponding upper channel shaped part of the sill 82. The sill is countersunk as indicated at 822 in Figure 25 to receive the end of the panel 820. A second inner channel terminal part 824 seats on the floor of the underpan between the raised edge of the sill and the seat support 8I8.

Referring to Figures 25, 28, and 31-38 inclusive, the underpan is shown in detail. This underpan I8 comprises the rear section I81: and

the front section I8b. The rear section terminates in a downwardly extending flange 828 below the rear seat. This flange is secured to a flange 828 on the end of the front section no as is best shown in Figure 37. Intermediate its ends, the rear section has the opening 880 in which the gasoline tank is received, the edge of this opening being suitably downwardly and then outwardly flanged as indicated at 882, 884, and the edge of the flange 884 is again downturned as indicated at 886, these flanges adding strength to the edge of the opening. The rear pan extends to the rearmost part 888 and is curved in plan at its rear end. At the sides of the rearmost end the pan is upwardly flanged as at 840 (Figure 34) and is welded to a rear reinforcing curved plate 842 which extends the width of the vehicle at the rear. Intermediate its ends this curved plate 842 is inwardly bent as at 848 and then upwardly as at 848 and finally into a flange 850 which is weldedv to the end 888 of the rear section I8a. Underneath thesection I8a there is secured a second plate 862 curved across the pan, these channels 364 means of which against the channels 390 end of the vehicle and spaced from the plate 342. At its upper end this plate 362 has a flange 354 secured to the underside of the rear section l8a and at its lowermost edge is secured to a flange 366 formed in the'bottom of the curved rear member 342, these members being spaced from each other and secured together at their lower edges, and at the top the spaced apart flanges aresecured to the underpan, forming a boxsectioned construction addingstrength to the rear edge.

Two brackets 358 are secured to the rear end of the underpan and serve as mountings for the spring shackles, the spring shackles being mounted at the arcuate part 360. These brackets have the flanges 362 by means of which they are secured to the plate 352 and they are also provided with the channel arms 364 which flt over inwardly pressed ribs 366 formed in the underand ribs 366 being welded together.

Inside the box-sectioned construction formed by the plates 342 and 352, two reinforcing brackets 368 are secured. Openings 369 in the plate 342 and brackets 368 serve to mount the rear bumper.

The front section l8b is provided with a center channel 310 to accommodate the propeller shaft and this channel extends rearwardly and meets the downturned flange 326 on the rear section l8a. Immediately in front of flange 326 the seat to accommodate the channel 310. The seat support 3|8 has the arcuate ends 316 having the end flanges 318 which are secured to the rear wheel house 232. Similarly, flanges 380 on the ends of the flange 326 are secured to the wheel house.

See Figure 28. Flanges 383 on the end of the sill 62 are also secured to the wheel house.

Suitable braces 384 connect the top flange 386 of the seat support 3i8 with the rear section l8 and inclined braces 388 extend from the floor of part I 81; upward to the rear section I 8a and are welded to both. The braces 384 and 368 is shown in Figures 36 and V 35. respectively. I Underneath the rear end of the front section Springshackle supporting brackets 394 are secured to the underside of the underpan, the

brackets having the forward channel shaped parts 396 which fit over the channel 390, but at the rear the brackets 394 are enlargedandproject downwardly a considerable distance as shown at 398.111 Figure 38. The sides of pant 398. are provided with suitable openings 400 by .the spring shackle is attached.

andartheir upper edges thesesid'e5398 abut and are welded thereto. The rearmostend-g cross sectional shape of theflanges 402 which are turned outwardly and secured at the upperpart to the flange 326.

The front section is also provided with the lower transverse brace 404 and the upper transtapered and overlap each other as is best shown in Figures 32 and 33. The deepest at'the outer part of the underpan and is shailowest at its inside at and ends at the center channel 310. The upper ,brace 406 extends substantially entirely across of the brace 406, channel shaped tracks 4I2 are secured. On these tracks therollers of the shiftable front seat are adapted to roll;

The shape of each lateral edge or sill of theunderpan from the rear wheel housing forwardly to the toeboard is indicated in Figures 25, 26, 23, and 33. The edge of the pan is upwardly bent to form a web as shown at 4| 4 and then outwardly as at 6, this outwardly bent portion being slightly downwardly inclined to conform to the inclined shape. of the lower end of the door. The pan is then downwardly flanged as shown at 8, therebelng a rabbet 420 formed where the parts 6 and M8 join, the rabbet being to accommodate the overlap flanges I84 of the doors I86.

A longitudinally extending strip or plate 422 has an upper flange 424secured to the underside of the underpan and this plate 422 extends downwardly so that the lower edge thereof is substantially coincident with the lower edge of the downwardly bent flange 4| 8. The plate 422 is spaced from the flange 418 and the lower ends of; the flanges are secured together by the channel. member 426 thelateral flanges 428 of which are secured to the lowermost edges of the M8 and plate rigid construction at the side of the underpan and forms the sill 82.

An outer flange tion running board 430 is connected to the end of the downwardly turned flange M8 by means of a plurality of reinforcing members 436, the members 436 beingsecured by means of end flanges 438 to their adjacent parts. A decorative molding strip 440 is shown secured to the outer flattened edge of the imitation running board 430. 'If desired, this running board 430 may be omitted.

The forward end of the underpan has an upwardiy inclined part 442 and at the end of the part 442 there is an upwardly bent flanged end 444 which is in line with the toeboard I12 central curved partf 446which mates. .with""and conforms to the indentation-47f of the dash pan 60. a "f M The-opening-shown at "448 is for the" reception of the bolt 80 shown in Figure 5.

The side sills 82 have the upwardly projecting of the brackets 394 have the parts ,53intermediiW their-length' 112$ on these and strengthening of the velnrle 'llhls upwardly bent part 444 has the.-

- ting edge part and turned over flange of the Weatherstrip retaining groove two front pillars and a each side of the parts 458 the center door posts l4 are mounted.

The outer skin of the body comprises the cowl cover :8, the roof construction 4, the cowl sides i2, and the rear side panels l8.

In Figures 39-42 I88 of the vehicle "is shown. Except fortheir peripheral shape these doors are substantially identical and ade'scription of one will serve for both frontand rear doors, in this instance one of the front doors being shown. The door comprises the outer panel 452 and the inner panel 454. The inner panel has the edge flanges 458 .to form the lamb face of the door and a second flange 458 bentaway from the flanges 458 and received within the turned over edge 458 of the outer panel 452. The flange 458 and the abut- 458 form the overlap flange of the door. The panel 454 is indented at 482 to give strength to the structure, and has the cut out parts 484 and 488 to lighten the construction and to allow access to the window and window regulator mechanism. The panels 452 and 454 extend from the bottom of the door to substantially the belt line only and above this belt line the single integral rib 488 bent to the general configuration shown in Figure 42. The cross sectional shape of the rib 488 is shown in Figures 40, 41, and 42. 'One edge 418 is return bent around the other edge 412 to form a rigid interconnection and closed structure. Beyond the flange 812 a recess 414 is'provided, this recess being of the shape shown and is adapted to receive a Weatherstrip so that a tight connection will be formed between the upper door and the pillar when the door is closed. The overlap flange of the upper part of formed by the edges 41!! and 412. The inner surface of the rib 488 is indicated at 416 and a channel 418 is formed in the rib and faces inwardly of the door to form a glass run channel. The outer surface of the rib is indicated at 488. The rib is at first in flat form and is bent to the general cross-sectional shape shown in Figure 42. It is later suitably bent to the contour shown in the door of Figure 39 and has one long arm 482 at one side of the door and a short arm 484 at the other side, these arms being suitably welded to the lamb face 458'at the side having the longer arm 482 and to a reinforcing channel 488 secured to the door at the shorter side shown to the right in Figure 39. The channel 483 is secured by means of the flanges 485 and 488 to the outer and inner channels respectively and serves as a mounting bracket for the door hinges.

A modified cross-sectional shape is shown in Figure 43. The only diiference is in the shape 414 of the species of Figures 39-42. The groove 414' of Figure 43 has the shape as shown.

I claim:

1. In a metal vehicle body having a cowl pan, front frame, two braces. one at each side of the vehicle, said braces extending from the frame to the pillars, said braces passing through the cowl pan and being welded to the pillars, and a yieldableconnection between the braces and the frame.

2. In a vehicle body having a cowl pan, hollow front door pillars and a frame, two braces, one at vehicle, said braces extending from the framejg the pillars, brackets secured in the front pillars, said'braces passing through the cowl pan and being welded tothe pillars at the point where the brackets are secured, and a yield- 'Ifbbdiffiesilie inclusive, one of the doors the door is composed of part of the the door is.

able connection between the braces and the tially at the front door pillars, a short subframe extending from the end of the underpan forwardly under the vehicle to the front end thereof, and a resilient connection between the end of the frame and the end of the underpan.

4. In a metal vehicle body, a front end and frontdoor pillar construction comprising an inner panel extending from the roof to the belt line, said panel including an instrument panel,

inner pillar cover and top reinforcement above the windshield, an. outer skin including a roof and cowl and forming theexterior of the pillar and body, inner members extending from the roof to the bottom of the body and forming the interior members of the pillar, said members forming a joint at substantially the belt line of the vehicle and being secured together.

5. In a metal vehicle body, a rear door pillar construction comprising a channel member, an outer skin to the edge of which the channel member is secured, an inner cap piece closing the channel and forming therewith a box-sectioned construction, a seat back support secured to the outer structure, said cap piece having a part extending rearwardly and secured to the seat support, the edge of said channel being spaced from the cap piece to form a channel to receive a tacking strip,the edge of said outer skin being inwardly bent and secured to the channel member to form the edge face of the pillar.

6. In a metal vehicle body, a rear door pillar construction comprising a channel member, an outer skin to the edge of which the channel member is secured, an inner cap piece closing the channel and formingtherewith a box-sectioned rail having an extension at its rear end, said extension having an end cap piece or facing for the pillar, said edge cap piece having a part extending beyond the edge of the body and formed into a drip trough, said outer skin secured at its edge in the trough.

'I. In an underpan for a metal vehicle body, said pan extending from the 'rear end of the vehicle to the front part of the cowl, said pan comprising two parts, the rear part extending from the rear end of the vehicle to adjacent the rear door post and having its forward end downturned and joined to the rear of the front part, a

seat support secured to the front part adjacent the junction of the two parts and having its upper edge substantially in the same plane as the rear part of the'underpan, braces extending between the seat support and the rear part and between the front and rear parts, a center channel in the pan to accommodate a propeller shaft, transverse bracing for the pan, said bracing comprising members cooperating with eachother and positioned above and below the underpan, and an upturned edge at the front of the pan.

8. In a metal vehicle body having front door pillars and an underpan terminating substantially at the front door pillars, a short subframe 9355M the end of the underpan forwardly under thevehicle to the front end thereof, a resilient connection between-thegand of the frame and the end of the underpan,- braces extending from the front part of the frame to the connection between the frame 7 and one end of each brace, and means to connect the other end of the braces to the body.

9. In a vehicle body having an underpan, bracing or stiffening means for the underpan, said meana'compriaing an upper transverse brace tapering from the middle oi the underpan-toward the edge of the pan, and a lower transverse brace tapering from the outer edge of the pan toward the middle thereof, said braces being positioned on the top and bottom oi the pan opposite each 5 other.

CHARLES L. WATERHOUSE, JR. 

